A tragic incident unfolded at the Bonny/Nembe/Bille jetty in Port Harcourt City Local Council of Rivers State on Monday evening, as three passenger boats succumbed to a devastating fire. While the exact casualty count remains uncertain, numerous traders and passengers are feared dead.
The fire originated from the engine of a wooden boat undergoing maintenance, quickly spreading to adjacent boats. An anonymous eyewitness recounted that a technician, working on the faulty engine, inadvertently ignited jerry cans containing suspected adulterated fuel. Despite efforts to control the blaze, it escalated rapidly, leading to explosions that trapped occupants.
The boats were reportedly preparing to journey to a fishing settlement in Bayelsa State. A devastated trader shared her narrow escape, recounting how a mother, who temporarily left the boat, returned to the heartbreaking discovery that her three children were missing.
The incident resulted in substantial material losses, with goods and property worth millions of naira consumed by the flames. Authorities are likely conducting investigations into the cause of the fire and assessing the overall impact on the community.
